Stars and Bars RestorationIf you live near the Arkansas River in Prowers County or along the Purgatoire near Las Animas, you may have seen the river running high this week. We want to be clear about what the official alerts actually say, because there's a big difference between a river that is "near bankfull" and one that is flooding homes.
What the National Weather Service said on November 6, 2026
Arkansas River at Lamar (Prowers County): The Flood Warning was extended until late morning Friday. The NWS said the river would "remain near bankfull this morning, with localized flooding of lowlands near the river around Lamar." At 4:00 AM MST Friday the stage was 9.6 feet; bankfull is 10.0 feet and flood stage is 11.0 feet. The NWS listed the impact at 10 feet as minor overbank flow into low-lying meadows near County Road 13, and forecast the river to fall to near 8.0 feet by late evening.
Purgatoire River near Las Animas (Bent County): The warning continued into Friday night, but the NWS said "no flooding is currently forecast." The stage was 7.2 feet at 10:15 PM Thursday, just over bankfull at 7.0 feet and below the 9.0-foot flood stage, with a forecast fall in the days ahead.
In plain terms: this is a low-level event, mostly affecting lowlands, meadows and riverside property. Most in-town homes are not in the path. But if you have a cellar, a low pasture shed, a well house or a riverside cabin, it's worth a look. This is also a good time to remember the river has had water-quality problems this fall; see our post on the Arkansas River sewage contamination reaching Lamar and Holly.
What to do today if you're near the river
- Walk your low spots. Check crawl spaces, window wells, cellars and any equipment stored at ground level.
- Move valuables up. Electronics, documents and stored boxes should be off the floor.
- Clear drains and culverts. Leaves and debris make minor flooding worse.
- Don't drive through water on county roads. Even a few inches over a gravel road can hide washouts.
- Assume river water is contaminated. Wear boots and gloves, and wash up after contact.
- Photograph everything before you clean up. Our insurance documentation checklist walks through it.
If water does get in
Groundwater and river water are Category 2 or 3 water by IICRC standards, meaning it should not simply be mopped and forgotten. Porous materials like carpet pad and drywall that touched it usually need to come out, and everything else needs to be dried quickly, because mold can start in 24 to 48 hours. We explain the drying timeline in how long water drying takes in Lamar, La Junta and Alamosa.
Standard homeowner policies often exclude flood from rising water, so ask your agent before you assume anything is covered. That's a question for your carrier, and we can't answer it for you, but we will document the damage carefully for whichever claim you file.
Local help
We're a veteran-owned, IICRC-certified crew out of Colorado City, and the Lower Arkansas Valley is part of our service area. See our pages for Lamar and water damage restoration, or read our guide to water damage in Lamar and Prowers County and Las Animas and Bent County.
If water has reached your home or business, call us at (719) 676-2456. If you're not sure whether it's worth a visit, call anyway and we'll tell you honestly. Again: (719) 676-2456, 24/7.
Source: National Weather Service flood warnings for the Arkansas River at Lamar and the Purgatoire River near Las Animas, issued November 5-6, 2026. Conditions change quickly; check weather.gov for the latest.